| Autor: |
Bell V; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.; REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Coimbra, Polo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal., Rodrigues AR; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal., Ferrão J; Vice-Chancellor Office, Universidade Pedagógica de Maputo, Rua João Carlos Raposo Beirão 135, Maputo 1000-001, Mozambique., Varzakas T; Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, GR-22100 Kalamata, Greece., Fernandes TH; CIISA-Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal. |
| Jazyk: |
angličtina |
| Zdroj: |
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) [Foods] 2024 Aug 01; Vol. 13 (15). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 01. |
| DOI: |
10.3390/foods13152438 |
| Abstrakt: |
Food fortification with micronutrients was initially justified in developed countries by a lack of availability of micronutrients in staple crops, mainly due to soil exhaustion. However, in Sub-Saharan arable lands, soil fatigue is not predominant, and communities consume mostly home-grown, organic, non-processed crops. Sub-Saharan food systems are nevertheless deeply entwined with food insecurity, driver of illnesses. Family production can promote subsistence, food stability, and self-sufficiency, the main SSA setback being the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of dietary variety, contributing to malnutrition. Poverty reduction and women's education are significant strategies for reducing child and adolescent undernourishment. Fortification of foods consumed daily by individuals makes sense and can minimize, if not entirely, eliminate deficiencies. Compulsory mass fortification of foods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with single micronutrients is, however, controversial since they work in synergy among each other and with the food matrix, for optimal absorption and metabolism. Since the causes of malnutrition are many, caused by diverse, unequal, and unjust food distribution, interrelated with political, social, cultural, or economic factors, education status of the population, season and climatic changes, and effectiveness of nutrition programs, just food fortification cannot solve the composite of all these elements. Further, compulsory fortification is excessive, unproductive, and likely harmful to human health, while many challenges remain in assessing the quality of available premixes. Furthermore, aiming at dietary diversification is the best approach of increasing trace element intake from commonly accessible and easily available food sources. |
| Databáze: |
MEDLINE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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